The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Adding to his successful I Can Read collection of poetry anthologies, Hopkins has compiled 12 verses related to the holiday from well-known authors such as Jane Yolen, Maria Fleming, and Lillian Fisher. Poems range from personal feelings of joy to those of wonder and awe. In the first poem by Fleming, entitled “Dizzy,” a euphoric sensation of twirling like a spinning top or dreidel is the main focus. Fisher’s “Hanukkah” shows all the holiday traditions as a remembrance of the miracle—“Bring the shamash, / light a candle, / say the ancient prayer. / Spin the dreidel, / give the gelt, / gather loved ones near. / Tell it again and marvel—‘A miracle happened here!’ ” Whimsical paintings full of swirls and curves in purples, blues, and greens complete the Judaic settings for each poem. Good, basic, and simple holiday reading. (index) (Easy reader/poetry. 5-8)

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.